I’m not sure where summer went, but it seemed to sprint through our midst with barely a notice. Monday marked our first day of school. Here, the kids pose for the annual first-day-of-school picture.

Unfortunately, Jeremy wasn’t much in the mood for a photography session. I warned him that this picture would be going in the recordbook for posterity, but he still couldn’t muster a smile for the camera. Don’t feel bad–he cheered up when he heard that we were having Italian sausage for lunch.

Jake can hardly contain his excitement over cracking open the math book again.

Derek and Peter conduct their first science experiment from their Anatomy book.

While Jeremy has been busy playing and coloring during school hours, Ruthie has been scooting, climbing and chewing. If someone is laying on the ground, she looks at it as obstacle course practice.

First Derek,

then Molly.

Ruthie and Molly. Molly and Ruthie. They have been good buddies lately. During the few days this summer when the AC is not on, they both like to hang out at the front door.

Molly is training her in the fine art of people/bird/squirrel watching.

In addition to sharing common interests, they also have common tastes in food. Remember how Molly sits at Ruthie’s feet during meal time so as to catch any tasty morsels that drop from Ruthie’s pudgy fingers?

Well, now that Ruthie is mobile, the tables have turned. When given freedom, she makes a beeline to Molly’s food bowl, grabs a kibble before anyone can catch her, and stuffs it in her mouth.

I’m going to have to keep an eye on this one. Houseplants, dog food…I hate to think of what might be next!

As we were cleaning out the basement in anticipation of school beginning next week, we brought up the 10 year-old tent that’s on its last leg to put down by the curb.

Needless to say, it did not quite make it down to the curb. When I heard “lion training” and “kibbles”, I grabbed the camera, and this is what I saw:

I think Molly is most excited about school starting…give these boys some purpose and structure. Summer break is a good thing, but clearly this good thing must come to an end.

After lunch the other day, the boys teamed up to play Capture the Flag. They run around with swords and lightsabers trying to capture the other team’s flag while at the same time defending their own.

These guys wait for the other guys,

while these guys wait for the other guys.

Then when they find each other, the yelling and attacking begin. It’s a loud game, but they have a lot of fun at it.

What do we girls do while the boys are making all the ruckus?

We eat our Cheerios.

And enjoy the entertainment.

Since we’re on the topic of food on the blog, I thought I’d share Ruthie’s latest delicacy.

Have you ever tried houseplant leaf salad? Ruthie has. It could be considered an organic meal, I suppose.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen after lunch today, I realized Ruthie was alone in the family room…and it was quiet. And as we all know, baby alone + quiet = trouble. I walked in to find her chewing on torn leaves, while laying in the midst of more torn leaves.

We have unconventional ways of pruning plants around here.

Ever since Ruthie began eating finger food, Molly quickly learned that approximately 1/3 of the food lands on the floor, while another 1/3 ends up squished on the chair.

To a dog, this means opportunity.

No longer is scrounging necessary; the tasty nuggets practically fall into her mouth if she is positioned strategically enough. And when the little person is lifted from her chair, another feast awaits.

Next up on the learning curve: Ruthie realizes the reaction she gets from Molly when she drops food on the floor.

This was the subject of a recent email from my mom. She sent pictures of Ruth getting to know her newest best friend at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

It was her first experience with a full length mirror.

“She smiles at me,”

“and gives me high fives at just the right time.”

“Wanna be friends?”

This week was Ruthie’s inaugural Bombs Away Training Session.

She learned the giddy anticipation of clothes dropping from the second floor of the house,

meanwhile posing for a picture with P. Stephen.

Next, after the drop, she learned the fun of rolling around in dirty clothing. (Even Molly gets into the action)

The rest of the time was spent in observation. This is how you sort – first you whip the whites at one person

and the darks toward another person.

As her domestic skills grow by the week, I’m confident that she’s going to make a wonderful housewife one day.

Though this has certainly been a summer of swimming (with family, with neighbors, with friends from afar…), a large part of the season has also been spent working at OneWay’s new facility. It has been perfect for our family because not only are we being challenged to work hard, we are working together.

Every Wednesday morning, we meet at the building and get to work. Derek labors with the boys team accomplishing outdoor tasks–mowing the grass, spreading mulch, pulling weeds, and watering plants. Jake leads a team of kids aged 4 to 8 (including Peter and Jeremy) to carry out indoor tasks such as cleaning the bathrooms, washing windows, and mopping floors. He then takes the kids outside and teaches them a story from the Bible.

See the smiles? Imagine a group of kids enjoying cleaning the bathroom…they really do. They know they are contributing in an important way–if they don’t clean the bathroom, then the job doesn’t get done.

Some of the older girls help an adult tend to the babies and toddlers in the nursery. The ratio couldn’t be better on this particular day.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work with each other and with good friends to accomplish a common goal.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

After weeks of Molly’s hair literally falling out in clumps, and Ruthie rolling around picking up said hair in her mouth, we have declared the family room a Hair Free Zone.

For the people in the house, this move has substantially decreased stress levels; especially for the person responsible for pulling dog hair out of the baby’s mouth. On the other hand, the dog-who-thinks-she’s-a-human does not understand why she’s on one side and her people are on the other.

The poor pup just sits and stares at us longingly, waiting for an Okay signal. Her head gets tired after a while, so she lays it on the cushion, still with her eyes fixed on her people.

Jeremy feels sympathy for her, so he walks over and gives her a hug.

Speaking of Jeremy’s hugs for Molly: there is a fine line between hug and head-lock. As soon as Jeremy purses his lips together is a good sign that the line has been crossed.

But she still loves him so.

“Molly. That is a Hair Free Zone. You can’t go in there. Wait till you’re done shredding.”